The use of marble from ancient greece to today

Anyone who has studied the ancient Greek period probably knows about the importance of marble in their culture. Marble has been found in the relics of many ancient cultures, in fact. Marble tops were common in many areas of the homes of wealthy ancient Greeks, and the extremely wealthy had marble everywhere. Marble countertops, floors, mantels and pieces of artwork have been found in the sites of ancient regal homes from the height of their civilization. 

Some of the most prized sculptures from the ancient Greek period were made of marble , since it is not only beautiful but extremely durable as well. If all the marble tops have lasted longer than the homes they once inhabited, the ancient Greek sculptures should last long enough for all future generations to enjoy. The waxy properties of marble lend it to the creation of life-like sculptures, such as the human figures created by historic Greek artists.

The term marble is actually derived from the Greek word “marmaros,” which means “shining stone.” The term has further developed into the English word “marmoreal,” or marble-like. Marble is also associated with the astrological sign Gemini, as many natural stones are associated with birth signs. Marble, as a natural stone, is a metamorphosed limestone. This means that the limestone has undergone changes at the mineralogical, chemical and crystallographic levels. The baseline element of marble is calcium carbonate.

The natural marble that is used to make marble countertops and floors is obtained from quarries the same way that granite countertops are, but good marble is relatively harder to find. Marble countertops are also produced synthetically, but these are almost always distinguishable from the natural kind. Synthetic marble tops will also not last for as many generations in the kitchen of a family home as the real thing.

There are various grades of high quality marble that are known by the location of the quarries they are sourced from. The white marble most prized by sculptors throughout history, for example, is quarried from Carrara in Italy. Other locations where precious marble is found are Paros and Penteli in Greece, Proconnesus in Turkey and Macael in Spain.

Marble tops have been a building medium of choice in many ancient cultures, not just the Greek culture. Some of the world’s most famous historic structures, including the Taj Mahal in India, have been built from marble . In most Eastern countries, a home with marble tops on the floors puts the owner in a distinctly higher social category than the other people. Marble has long been associated with wealth and prestige, but marble countertops can also be found in the homes of middle class families today.